SPRING excursion to Berlin

On the first day, the students and Mr. Hajer visited the Berlin city model at the Senate Department for Urban Development. Large-scale physical models helped the students understand the city’s historical growth, major redevelopment areas, and future planning visions.

The second day focused on neighborhood-level planning and social cohesion in Berlin-Neukölln. Led by the local neighborhood management team and Mr. Lauschke, the group toured the Rollbergviertel, where they gained insight into how the Neighborhood Management office addresses social challenges, supports community initiatives, and coordinates with residents, housing companies, and municipal actors.  In the afternoon, the group visited the Berlin Wall Memorial, which provided powerful historical context for understanding the spatial division, memory, and reconciliation of the urban landscape.

On the third day, the focus was on post-airport transformations and large-scale urban reuse. The group began with a guided tour of the former Berlin Tegel Airport, now known as Berlin TXL – Urban Tech Republic. This site is currently being developed into a versatile hub for innovation, research, and urban technologies. The tour highlighted the challenges of reusing extensive infrastructure and integrating new functions into the existing city. To see an alternative use for a former airport, the group then explored the redevelopment of Tempelhofer Feld with Mr. Hajer, discussing open-space development, interim uses, and the political debates surrounding one of Berlin’s largest inner-city open spaces. Finally, the students visited gentrified areas of Berlin-Neukölln, which allowed them to observe the ongoing

At the final day, the program revisited the central rail hub and the redevelopment of the waterfront. With Mr. Hajer, the group toured Europa City at Berlin Central Station, exploring how the area functions as an incubator for new housing and mixed-use development in the city center. They also learned how large-scale projects are reshaping Berlin’s skyline and mobility connections. Lastly, the students visited the glass dome of the Reichstag, where they enjoyed a panoramic view of the city and learned about the symbolic connection between architecture, transparency, and democratic governance.

The excursion concluded with an evening train back to Dortmund, leaving the group with a wealth of insights into Berlin’s contemporary planning practices, ranging from neighborhood management and social policies to major infrastructure reuse and inner-city development.

We would like to thank everyone who gave presentations and provided the students with fascinating insights into planning-related aspects of the city of Berlin.